Combined tire chain applicator and mud lug



July 27, 1948.

Filed Dec. l, 1947 T. O. HOPPES COMBINED TIRE CHAIN APPLICATOR AND MUDLUG 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 27, 1948. T. o. HoPPx-:s 2,445,947

COMBINED TIRE CHAIN APPLICATOR AND MUD LUG Filed Dec. 1, 1947 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 27, 1948 OFFICE COMBINED TIRE CHAINAPPLICATOR AND MUD LUG Thomas 0. Hoppes, Tamaqua, Pa.

Application December 1, 1947, Serial No. 789,086

4 Claims. (Cl. 152-225) object of this invention to provide a simple delvice which can be quickly coupled to one end of each side chain, and canthen be clamped onto the tire so that the open chain will bc wrappedabout the tire upon one revolution of the wheel, whereupon theapplicator may be easily uncoupled and removed from the tire, and theends of the chain connected together in a conventional manner.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of this kindwhich may serve the dual purpose of assisting in mounting the tirechain, and also in forming a mud, snow or sand lug for ob` tainingtraction in soft material.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device of` this kindwhich includes a pair of spring-pressed arcuate clamping jaws pivotallysecured together and loosely secured to a cap or tread element with thelatter including a releasing bolt for releasably holding the jaws inreleased position.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in thearrangement, combination and details of construction disclosed in thedrawings and specification, and then more particularly pointed out inthe appended claims.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a detail end elevation of a combined anti-skid chainapplicator and mud lug for vehicle tires, y

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a plan view of the device, showing in dot and-dash lines themanner of applying a chain to a tire,

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a sectional View taken substantially on the line 5-5 ofFigure 4,

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 6-6 ofFigure 4,

Figure 7 is a fragmentary side elevation showing the releasing lever inreleased position.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral Ill designates generally anelongated lug forming member which is of U-shape in transverse sectionand includes a bight II and parallel legs or side members I2 and I3. Thebody III has rockably mounted therein a pair of longitudinally arcuateclamping members I4 and I5 which include elongated outer levers I6 andIl respectively.

The levers I6 and I'I are pivotally connected together by means of apivot member I8 which is disposed in substantially the medial point ofth'e length of the body I0. The junction between the jaw I4 and thelever or arm I6 includes an offset lug I9 formed with a notch 20 withinwhich a pin 2| is secured between an ear 22 and the side member I3. Thejaw member I5, with the lever Il includes an offset lug 23 similar tolug I9 and formed witha notch 24 within which a pin 25 loosely engages.

The pin 25 is secured between an innerI ear 26 and the side member I2 ofthe body I0. The outer end of the jaw I4 at the junction between thisjaw and the lever I6 is formed with a T-shaped chain engaging member 21,and the end of the lever I6 is formed with a second T-shaped chainengaging member 28. The jaw member I5 at the junction between this jawand the lever II is formed with a T-shaped chain engaging member 29disposed in parallel relation to chain engaging member or lug 28, andthe end of the lever Il is formed with a T-shaped chain engaging member3|! disposed in parallel relation to lug or chain engaging member 2l.

The jaws I4 are constantly urged to clamping position by means of abowed spring 3l which is formed with one offset end 32 which engages ina slot 33 formed in the adjacent end of the lever or arm I'l. The spring3| also includes a second offset end 34 which engages in the slot 35formed in the adjacent end of the lever or arm I6. The spring 3l is bentover the central portions of levers I6 and Il and in order to move thejaws I4 and I5 to released position, I have provided a cam 36 which iscarried by a cam shaft 31 having a handle or lever 38 secured thereto.

The handle or lever 38 is disposed outside of the side member I2 of bodyIU and a stoppin 39 is secured to the side I2 and is engageable by theprojecting end 40 of the lever handle 38.

When the projecting end 48 of handle 38 engages stop member 39, cam 36will be in its` jaw releasing position and will be in substantialalignment with pivot member I8. The jaw I4 at its inner end ispreferably formed with teeth or serrations 4| for engagement with theside wall of a tire, and jaw I5 is also formed at its inner end withteeth or serrations 42.

In the use and operation of this device when it is desired to apply achain to a tire, one end of the chain may be engaged `as shown in Figure3,

with lug 28, and the adjacent end of the chain lug 30 the end link oithe chain is also engaged4 over lug 21. Lever 38 is rocked to releasedposition to move the jaws i4 and Il outwardly whereupon the device isapplied to the tire with the body l engaging over the tire tread. Levery38 is then rocked ,to released position where this lever will bedisposed alongside of body i0. Jaws lo and i5 will then be moved toclamping position by spring 3 I The wheel may then be turned for onerevolution so that the chain will be moved around the tire, whereuponlever 38 is then moved to released position and the device disengagedfrom the chain.

Where it is desired to use this device as a mud or snow lug in anemergency, the device is clamped by itself upon the tire and the body I0will provide the traction means for the tire.

I do not mean to conne myself to the exact details of constructionherein disclosed, but claim all variations falling within the purview ofthe appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A combined chain applicator and tire lug comprising a pair of tireclamping jaws, oppositely extending lever arms carried by said jaws,pivot means securing said arms together between the ends thereof, a'hook carried by the free end of each arm, an inverted transverselyU-shaped combined cover and traction lug engaging over said arms, aloose coupling between said combined cover and traction lug and theupper ends of said jaws, and a. spring constantly urging said jaws toclamping position.

2. A combinedchain applicator and tire lug comprising a pair of tireclamping jaws, oppo-v 4 i traction lug engaging over said arms, a loosecoupling between said combined cover and traction lug and the upper endsof said jaws, a spring connected between saidv arms iorconstantly urgingy said jaws to releasing position, `and jaw release means .carried bysaid combined .cover and lug engageable with said arms for moving thelatter to jaw releasing position.

3. A combined chain applicator and tire lug comprising a pair of tireclamping jaws, oppositely extending lever arms carried by said jaws,pivot means securing said arms together between the yends thereof, ahook carried by the. free end of each arm, an inverted transverselyvU-shaped combined cover and traction lug engaging over said arms, aloose coupling between said combined cover and traction lug and theupper ends of said jaws, an elongated bowed spring connected betweensaid arms for normally urging said jaws toclamping position, a releasingcam pivotaliy carried by said cover and lug disposed adjacent thepivotal connection between said arms, and an operating lever xedrelative to said cam.

4. A tire lug comprising a pair of clamping jaws engageable with theside walls of the tire, oppositely extending arms carried one by eachjaw and adapted to extend over the tread of the tire, means pivotaliysecuring said arms together, a spring means for holding said jaws inclamping position, and lever operated means for moving said jaws toreleased position.

THOMAS O. HOPPES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 40 1,266,507 Ludwig May 14, 19181,499,036 Smith June 24, 1924 2,076,894 Johnson Apr. 13, 1937

